When authors (or songwriters) create, they're usually faced with a dilemma: in order for someone to read their book (or listen to their song) through to the end, that person has to love it. Not like it, love it. It's like dating. Everyone says "If they only got to know me, they'd find out how great I am." The truth is, the people who are successful in dating are the ones who inspire that fascination from the get-go.
That doesn't mean successful daters are going to have successful relationships. They just present themselves that way. Same with those folks whose works you don't like, who have gotten their books and music into airports and grocery-stores: they created something an agent or a publisher loved, at least for a little while.
"Now hold on, Adam!" I hear you say. "I don't want to create something just to sell it. I have something to say! I'm filled with the burning desire to express my unique self, not just to write what people want to read."
Okay. So now we're stuck. Someone needs to love it, you need to write what you love, and those two things are usually separated by a big gulf.
So I'd suggest the task is this: Keep doing what you love, and get better at showing people why you love it. If you've written a book that nobody seems to want to read, even though you think it's awesome, what changes will you make to to get people to see what you love about it more clearly? A better cover? A book tour promoting the topic of your book? Getting rid of the first ten chapters, even though you thought that it was great writing?
Whatever you decide to do, keep in mind how you feel about those books, those songs, those celebrities you love, especially the ones that inspire you. They're everywhere! What are they doing to communicate what they love to you?
Need ideas? Write me. Have ideas? Leave a comment.
Love,
Adam